There has, however, been one exception to the dreariness of
the evidence.. Captain Freystitter, of the Marines, a man with an exceptionally good record who sat on the Original Court-Martial of 1894, affirmed positively that the secret papers forwarded by General Mercier to the Tribunal were read and commented on by Colonel Maitre'. As Colonel Maurel bad denied this, saying he only read one of them, and had made up his mind independently of them, the statement caused a scene. Captain Freystatter was called a liar b) General Mercier, but he adhered to his statement, and was believed by the majority of his audience. It is to be noted, however, that Captain Freystiitter was immediately "cut" by all officers of the Generals' party, their theory being that in contradicting his superiors he was guilty of a sort of mutiny. They have pushed the theory of discipline till it overrides the moral law, believing, apparently, that responsibility for any act or any statement rests exclusively with the superior who sanctions it. They disagree with Lowell, and think that "God will" not "send the bill to" them.
